By Our Correspondent
Jhapa, Nov. 24: Paper industries established in Hilly area have started shifting to Terai region in recent years due to facility of market and other amenities in Terai.
In recent years, the number of hand-made Nepali paper factories based on fibers (Lokta) of argeli plant in the hilly area is increasing.
Mostly, paper factories operated in Taplejung, Panchthar and Illam have now shifted down to Jhapa in recent years.
This is also supported by the fact that the Terai region has witnessed a high increase in the hand-made paper factories. According to Durga Bastola, officer at Cottage and Small Industry Office in Jhapa, a total of 29 such paper industries have been registered in the district.
Abiral Krishna Kharel, proprietor of Kharel Nepali Hate Kagaj Industry, said that he was operating his industry at Birtamod of Jhapa since 2070 BS because of better facilities available in operating industry in Terai as compared to in hilly areas.
It used to be very difficult to make the paper dry in hilly area due to lack of good sun light but it has been very easy in Terai for drying paper, he said.
Earlier, Kharel had operated the same industry at his home in Panchthar district. Kharel, however, said that all raw materials of his industry still came from hilly district including Taplejung, Panchthar and Ilam.
Kharel said that his industry is producing around 720,000 pieces of hand-made papers over a year. The factory price of one piece of hand-made paper is Rs. 7, he said.
A total of 30 people are getting employment every day in Kharel’s industry.
Proprietor of Sitaula Hate Kagaj Industry, Tej Sitaula is another example of shifting his industry from hilly area to Terai for the better facilities in the plane. Sitaula is operating his industry in Birtamod of Jhapa for the last 17 years.
Hand-made paper produced in the district used to be exported to Kathmandu and other cities of the countries.
Operators of hand-made paper industries in the district have complained that they had not received any encouragements from the side of government.